Walks planned to commemorate March on Washington

Groups in three communities will observe the 50-year anniversary of the March on Washington on or near the anniversary date, Aug. 28, 1963.

In Oroville, a march is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Southside Community Center parking lot, 2959 Lower Wyandotte Road. From there, the group will walk down the hill across Lower Wyandotte Road to the Martin Luther King Jr. Park. There will be a rally with prayer, community information and the reading of literature, speeches, song and dance.

The event is planned by the Butte County chapter of the NAACP in the memory of Martin Luther King Jr., the March on Washington and his famous "I Have A Dream" speech as well as continue the work for civil rights in current issues.

In Paradise, The Peace Center for Tolerance and Nonviolence will host its commemoration Saturday with the group gathering at 9 a.m. at The PLaCe at Paradise Lutheran Church, 780 Luther Drive, off Skyway. The group will march from the church to the center office at 6023 Skyway, rally there and march back to the church. Those attending are encouraged to bring signs or the center will provide them.

In Chico, the MLK Unity group of Chico and Chico Peace & Justice Center will host its 50-year commemoration Wednesday.

The group will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the Dorothy Johnson Center, 775 E. 16th St., and march to the Martin Luther King memorial statue at Community Park. The park is off E. 20th Street at Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway.

Speakers, songs and time for picnics and visiting are planned to honor the history made that day. Those participating may bring blankets, chairs and picnics, or purchase food available at the event.

Event planners can be reached at 518-9992 and are hoping to hear from anyone who was at the original March on Washington for Jobs & Freedom.